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By Sam S. Taylor

"INTRODUCTION This report deals with a comparatively simple application of some of the engineering principles involved in the evaluation, installation, and operation of air- or gas-injection projects and well-clean-out and repair methods to increase the producing rates of oil wells in partly depleted pools during the war. The methods suggested for developing gas-injection projects take into consideration that in general no new wells will be drilled because of wartime restrictions of equipment and manpower and that only existing wells and second-hand machinery will be used. Because air will be employed as the injection medium in secondary-recovery operations where natural gas is scarce and expensive, the disadvantages and hazards accompanying, its use are discussed. Engineering techniques recognized as best modern practice are discussed in relation to the effect of simple air-injection development of properties on postwar operations and Probable ultimate recovery of oil. The report is an introduction to where, when, why, and how an air-injection project should be installed and operated; it is not intended to be an engineering manual for technical guidance in the selection, development, and operation of simulative methods of oil recovery.The report is intended mainly for these thousands of operators in the Appalachian region owning a few wells prodding small quantities or oil daily. Many such operators are anxious to increase their production rates by simulative means and to rehabilitate their wells so that they will produce more oil to help win the war but, in general, are unfamiliar with secondary-recovery operations and cannot afford to hire technical assistance."

Sep 1, 1944

By R. E. Simpson

Beginning in 1972, fully grouted resin bolts were used in underground mines. An estimated 20 million resin bolts will be installed in 1980 owing to their apparent support improvement in most roof-bolt applications. Inorganic cements were tested to replace the resin at a lower cost while retaining the advantages of a grouted bolt. Although other inorganic materials were considered, all but portland and gypsum cements were rejected for reasons of availability, performance, or cost. Portland and gypsum-type cements were tested by the Bureau of Mines to select a fast-hardening, low-cost material that would anchor a roof bolt adequately to meet safety standards. An alpha-gypsum cement, accelerated with potassium sulfate, was selected as the best material because it had adequate pull strength at a desired set time of less than 5 minutes and was readily available.

Jan 1, 1980

By Bruce I. Thomas

The Fairbanks mining district forms an arc 40 miles long and 8 miles wide on the north side of the Tanana Valley in central Alaska. This is a region of broad valleys and rounded hills that range in elevation from 600 to 2,600 feet Lode-gold production started in 1910 and has continued sporadically to the present, but the largest single mine produced only 40 tons per 24-hour day. Total recorded lode-gold production of the district is 241,000 fine troy ounces of gold from ore that averaged 1.32 fine ounces per ton. The ore was mined chiefly from narrow veins and veinlets alined along anticlinal folds at Ester Dome and the Pedro Dome-Cleary area. The only proven reserves are reported to be at the Ryan Lode at Ester Dome and at the Keystone Mines, Inc., holdings in the Pedro Dome-Cleary area. An inferred lode-gold resource for the district of approximately 4,000,000 ounces is considered to indicate only the order of magnitude of the lode-gold potential because of the absence of detailed data needed to evaluate the numerous deposits.

Jan 1, 1973

By H. P. Greenwald

Cooperation between the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior and the Safety in Mines Research Board of Great Britain dates from 1924. It has been intimate and has involved exchange of personnel and. equipment as well as information. Correlation of divergent results obtained in large-scale tests of the explosibility3/ of coal dusts made in the respective countries was one of the first problems to be studied. The purpose of this paper is to show to what extent such correlation has been achieved. COMPARISON OF TEST METHODS The first research accomplished Jointly by the two organizations was a comparison of large-scale methods of determining the explosibility of coal dust. Large samples of coal were exchanged and subjected to test in the Bureau's Experimental coal mine and in the Board's steel gallery, 38 inches

Jan 1, 1939

By H. P. Greenwald

Cooperation between the Bureau of Mines of the United States Department of the Interior and the Safety in Mines Research Board of Great Britain dates from 1924. It has been intimate and has involved exchange of personnel and. equipment as well as information. Correlation of divergent results obtained in large-scale tests of the explosibility3/ of coal dusts made in the respective countries was one of the first problems to be studied. The purpose of this paper is to show to what extent such correlation has been achieved. COMPARISON OF TEST METHODS The first research accomplished Jointly by the two organizations was a comparison of large-scale methods of determining the explosibility of coal dust. Large samples of coal were exchanged and subjected to test in the Bureau's Experimental coal mine and in the Board's steel gallery, 38 inches

Jan 1, 1939

This study relates to continuous face haulage systems in underground coal mines, and was performed by Joy Manufacturing Company for the U. S. Bureau of Mines under the Bureau of Mines Contract No. HO 242025. The effective starting date for this work was June 14, 1974. There were two main reasons for making this study, the first being to find a safer system to move coal away from the face than the currently predominant shuttle car system, and the second being to seek ways to advance the state-of-the-art of continuous face haulage as a means of increasing coal production.

Jan 1, 1975

By J. E. Spurr

"Zinc Industry in BelgiumBy March F. Chase, Consulting Metallurgist, Bureau of MinesBelgium for many years was the principal spelter producing country of the world. Gradually its production was surpassed by that of Germany, and Germany in turn lost first place by the production in the 77ti.tad States. For the ten years previous to 1914, 21.6 per cent of the world's spelter was produced in Belgium. Of this production approximately 40 per cent was exported. A large percentage of the balance was rolled and of the shoots thus produced a considerable quantity was also exported.From an economic standpoint even before the war, the Belgian industry was in a unique, if not praoarious, position. Dependent upon foreign countries for ore and foreign markets for sale of products, smeltor was at a distinct disadvantage when compared with some of those of other localities. These disadvantages were partly offset by cheap coal and labor and by whatever there is of value in experience and what we may term for want of a better expression smelting tradition. However intangible this latter may be, it did have and has today an influence on commercial operations.One must not overlook the effect it will have on the revival of the industry. It may not be the determining factor but the fact that for so many years this industry flourished in Belgium, and played such an important role in the industrial life of the country will decide many operators to attempt to re-establish their operations.In 1913 the Belgian spelter plants produced 204,220 long tons of spelter or approximately 20 per cent of the world's production. During this year 500,000 to of ore were treated. The actual value of all of the products derived from treating sine ore amounted to 225 million frames."

May 1, 1919

By F. P. Haver

Primary lead is produced in the United States by the pyrometallurgical smelting of lead sulfide (galena, PbS) concentrates, which poses sulfur dioxide and lead air pollution control problems. The Federal Bureau of Mines has investigated an alternative hydrometallurgy procedure that does not generate gaseous sulfur oxides and diminishes the potential for the escape of lead into the atmosphere. The procedure involves leaching galena flotation concentrates with ferric chloride (FeC13) solution to obtain lead chloride (PbC12) and elemental sulfur as expressed by the following chemical reaction: PbS + 2FeC13 ? PbC12 + 2FeCl2 + S°. At 100° C, over 99 pct of the PbS in the concentrate is converted to PbCl2 in less than 15 min. The leach solution, composed of brine (NaCl) containing slightly more than the theoretical required amount of FeC13, dissolves the PbC12 as it is formed, leaving a residue of elemental sulfur plus gangue. High-purity PbC12 (>99.9 pct) crystallizes from the leach filtrate on cooling and is electrolyzed in a low-temperature, fused-salt cell to obtain corroding-grade metal (>99.94 pct Pb). Spent leach solution (FeC12) is regenerated for further use by reaction with the chlorine obtained in the electrolysis of lead chloride. Other values, such as Ag, Cu, Zn, and S°, are recovered by additional treatment of either the leach solution or leach residue.

Jan 1, 1976

By J. R. Thoenen

In the summer of 1937 the authors began a series of time studies of the various processes employed in' the production of crashed stone. These studies, made at quarries situated in the eastern and southeastern parts of the United States, have not been completed, but to make results available to the industry as early as possible, it was decided to publish summarizes of the studies made to January 1, 1939, as a series of progress reports. The first of these dealt with power-shovel loading and was issued as Report of Investigations 3461 in September 1939. The second, issued in September 1939 as Report of Investigations 3467, dealt with quarry haulage. The present report discusses analyses of time studies of primary drilling a t the same group of quarries. OBJECT OF STUDY Pressure of business problems frequently requires the entire attention of quarry management, and in consequence internal plant economies often are neglected. Also, operating officials absorbed in their local problems are prone to overlook possible economies that would attract attention immediately were they critically examining another plant. The authors felt that technical studies at a number of plants, made by impartial engineers, might disclose opportunities to reduce costs or improve efficiency in internal plant processes.

Jan 1, 1940

By William C. Cooley

Data on equipment and components which have been used in hydraulic mining experiments, tests, and operations were collected from the literature. Also data were obtained from U.S. manufacturers and suppliers of equipment which is potentially applicable and available in the U.S. for hydraulic mining. The data have been divided into 24 main categories (see the following page) and have been assembled on two-page data sheets which follow. Wherever possible, drawings or photographs are included immediately after each data sheet.

Jan 1, 1975

By L. T. Grose

The Bureau of Mines conducted a comprehensive study of the Kanab, Kolob, Kaiparowits, and Harmony coalfields of southwestern Utah to obtain additional information and to determine the potentials of these coalfields as sources of energy for steam-electric power-generating plants. Field examinations were made to ascertain the geologic structure and the stratigraphy of the coalfields, the accessibility of the coal-bearing strata, and the general nature of the coal-bearing strata and the terrain. Many mines, both active and abandoned, were examined, and key personnel in the coal industry in the area were consulted. Available analyses of southwestern Utah coals were compiled, and tentative conclusions regarding the rank and quality of the coals were drawn. Coals have been classified by rank according to the standards established by the American Society for Testing and Materials in 1964. The Parr formula for moist, mineral-matter-free British thermal units has been used to calculate the rank of each sample, except as otherwise noted. Water resources related to the areas of the coal reserves also were investigated. Existing literature and maps pertaining to the geology of the areas were reviewed. Production potentials of the coalfields and economic conditions affecting the possible utilization of the coal reserves as sources of energy for steam-powered electricity-generating plants were investigated and analyzed. The data obtained and the conclusions reached as a result of this study are included in this document. The total reserves of subbituminous A and high-volatile bituminous C coals in the fields of southwestern Utah are estimated to be at least 8 billion short tons at depths generally less than 2,000 feet. It appears likely that this estimate will be increased as additional data are made available through exploration and other investigations. Sufficient coal is available in four southwestern Utah counties to supply three or four large steam-electric plants. If the States involved grant water rights to companies planning to build steam-electric plants, the cost of producing power with coal might be attractive and might justify the construction of one or more of these plants.

Jan 1, 1967

By Richard J. Mainiero, James H. Rowland III, Marcia L. Harris

This paper reviews the potential hazards posed by the toxic fumes produced by detonating explosives in surface mining and construction operations. Blasting operations produce both toxic and nontoxic gaseous products; the toxic being mainly carbon monoxide (CO) and the oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The quantity of toxic gases produced by an explosive is affected by formulation, confinement, age of the explosive, and contamination of the explosive with water or drill cuttings, among others. Techniques to protect workers and the public from the potential hazards of explosive-related toxic fumes are discussed. These include: • Minimizing the quantity of toxic fumes produced. • Determining where the fumes may go so workers and neighbors can be moved out of harm’s way. • Preventing the fumes from moving towards workers and neighbors. • Monitoring the air near workers and neighbors so they can be relocated if fumes appear. • Ventilating structures or confined spaces until CO falls below a hazardous concentration.

By Paul C. Hyndman

Three properties in the Tuolumne River RARE II area, the Eagle Bluff Mine (lode) and the Indian Creek Bar and Bossy Bar Prospects (placer), have identified subeconomic gold resources (table 1). Nineteen other properties have potential for gold resources. Adjacent to the study area, five properties have identified mineral resources, and nine others have potential for resources. Properties having high-grade zones (shoots), but licking enough tonnage to be classified as resources, are listed in table 2. Gold, in lode and placer deposits, is the principal mineral commodity in the Toluene River study area. Ten properties within the RARE II boundary have gold-rich zones or shoots; they range in size from 12 to 2,500 tons and in average grade from 0.09 to 0.97 oz gold per ton.

Jan 1, 1983

Underground coal mining continues to evolve in the U.S., and more reserves are being mined under deeper cover, with worse roof, or with interactions from previous workings. At the same time, the mining community is responding to higher safety standards and intense competitive pressures. The need for effective ground control design has never been greater. Ground control safety issues that have been addressed by recent the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) research include: Improving roof support performance; Maintaining safe tailgate escapeways from longwalls; Optimizing pillar design for retreat mining; Controlling multiple seam interactions; Predicting roof conditions during extended cuts, and; Preventing massive pillar collapses. As funding from both government and the private sector has diminished, the emphasis in research has focused on providing the mining community with practical techniques for improved ground control design. Many projects have successfully employed empirical methods that emphasize the statistical analysis of case histories from underground mines. Other projects have employed numerical models and large-scale laboratory testing of roof support elements. Using these data, NIOSH has developed an entire toolbox of computer programs that have been effectively transferred to the mining community.

By C. M. Harrer

This paper describes the location, features, qualities, extent, and potential of iron occurrences and some associative resources - limestone and dolomite, coal, petroleum and natural gas, power, and water - in New Mexico. Reconnaissance investigations were made of 118 iron occurrences to determine their extent, attitude, and potential; character samples were analyzed to determine their quality and impurities; and pioneer metallurgical investigations were made on character samples to present their metallurgical problems. Some factors influencing past and potential iron markets are discussed. The most abundant iron minerals are magnetite and hematite, The higher grade deposits are extensive contact-metamorphic and pyrometasomatic replacements in calcareous Paleozoic rocks associated with intrusives. Low-grade deposits of considerable potential are the extensive Cambrian oolitic hematites of sedimentary origin and the Precambrian magnetite-hematite taconite iron formation. Iron occurs also as extensive colluvial and alluvial concentrations. A wide variety of accessory elements are indicated and these pose metallurgical and economic problems.

Jan 1, 1963

Reduce accidents associated with handling of the electrical trailing cable and the water hose on mining equipment. Approach Two reels were mounted on a loading machine to store and release the lines as required during face operations. How It Works A hydraulic motor, which is actuated by a treadle valve in the operator's cab, controls the reel on which 50 feet of electrical power cable is stored. A spring motor resists unwinding of the other reel on which 50 feet of water hose is stored. Both reels are mounted on the right rear of the loading machine. See Figure 1. Following common mining practice, the cable and hose are anchored to fixed points at the first intersection outby the face. Tramming forward causes the cable and hose to be pulled from the reels. Depressing the treadle valve causes the electric cable reel to turn and wind-in any slack in the cable. The spring tension on the water hose reel automatically rewinds the water hose when the loader is trammed in reverse.

Jan 1, 1978

By C. M. Harrer

This paper describes the location, features, qualities, extent, and potential of iron occurrences and some associative resources -limestone and dolomite, coal, petroleum and natural gas, power, and water - in New Mexico. Reconnaissance investigations were made of 118 iron occurrences to deter-mine their extent, attitude, and potential; character samples were analyzed to determine their quality and impurities; and pioneer metallurgical investigations were made on character samples to present their metallurgical problems. Some factors influencing past and potential iron markets are discussed. The most abundant iron minerals are magnetite and hematite. The higher grade deposits are extensive contact-metamorphic and pyrometasomatic replacements in calcareous Paleozoic rocks associated with intrusives. Low-grade deposits of considerable potential are the extensive Cambrian oolitic hematites of sedimentary origin and the Precambrian magnetite-hematite taconite iron formation. Iron occurs also as extensive colluvial and alluvial concentrations. A wide variety of accessory elements are indicated and these pose metallurgical and economic problems.

Jan 1, 1963

By D. E. Wolfson

As a part of its overall program of coal carbonization, the Bureau of Mines is studying the coking properties of coals that may be used for metallurgical purposes. The objectives of this study were given in detail in a previous report The inherent suitability of coal for metallurgical purposes depends primarily on (1) chemical composition, (2) preparation characteristics, and (3) carbonization behavior. The first two factors, Be well as the amount of available reserves, are considered in selecting coals for carbonization tests. The selection of coal beds in Harlan County, Ky., for coking tests was based, in part, on recent studies of coal reserves by Wallace,3/ who estimated the recoverable reserves in beds 28 inches or more thick, in tons, as follows:

Jan 1, 1956

By M. Hertzberg

Results of a comprehensive study of the absolute spectral radiance of the infrared emissions from methane-air explosions are reported. The spectral growth of these expanding flames were recorded with a time resolution of 1 msec in the spectral range of 1.7 to 5.0 µm. Time-resolved spectra were obtained for methane-air mixtures as a function of stoichiometry, nitrogen dilution, and Halon dilution, in a 9-liter vessel under different venting conditions. Data are also presented for coal dust-air explosions. Temperatures, obtained from the absolute radiances and from a band ratio technique for methane-air, are internally consistent and are generally 50° to 200°K below adiabatic flame temperatures. All near limit mixtures gave essentially the same flame temperatures (1,500° to 1,600° K) regardless of whether the limit was obtained by dilution with excess air, excess methane, excess nitrogen, or Halon. The coal dust explosion spectrum is essentially a blackbody continuum at 1,500° K with some selective emission at 4.4 µm from hotter CO2. The data are analyzed in terms of the radiative dynamics of a sperically expanding flame zone. The importance of radiative transport is assessed. An equation is derived which relates the instantaneous fraction of combustion power radiated to adiabatic variables.

Jan 1, 1973

By W. C. Babcock

This report covers Phase V of .a continuing program to apply a new liquid membrane process called coupled transport to the recovery pf metals from hydrometallurgical leach solutions. During this phase of the program, a membrane system of moderate scale was constructed and field-tested at the Exxon Highlands Mine and Mill Co. site near Douglas, Wyoming. The test unit contained four hollow-fiber membrane modules, each with 100 ft2 of membrane area. In the field tests, about 1000 gallons per day of leach solution was processed. The unit was operated on the leach solution for about 50 days. Leach solution entering the unit contained 100 ppm uranium. This concentration was reduced to about 5 ppm by coupled-transport treatment, and the uranium was concentrated to about 2 wt% as a uranyl carbonate product. Under these conditions, a transmembrane uranium flux of about 2.5 lb/ft2-year was obtained. An economic analysis showed that the cost of recovering uranium from this leach solution via coupled trans-port is about $1.20/lb. At higher concentrations of uranium in the leach solution this cost is reduced. For example, at 1000 ppm the cost of uranium recovery is about $0.30/lb.

Jan 1, 1983